78/52

An in-depth look at the iconic shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" - composed of 78 setups and 52 cuts - and the screen murder that profoundly changed world cinema

An unprecedented look at the iconic shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, the ‘Man behind the Curtain’, and the screen murder that profoundly changed the course of world cinema. In 78 setups and 52 cuts, the deliriously choreographed two-minute shower sequence in Psycho dismantled cinema’s definition of horror.

With a shocking combination of exploitation and high art, Alfred Hitchcock upended his own acclaimed narrative structure by violently killing off a heroine a third of the way through his film, without any explanation or justification.

Psycho played out like a horrific prank, forcing audiences to recognise that even the most banal domestic spaces were now fair game for unspeakable mayhem.

“A thorough examination of a pivotal moment in screen history.”

- Todd McCarthy, The Hollywood Reporter

“Philippe’s tribute to Hollywood’s most famous stabbing is an archival feast.”